How Smart Are They?

October 14th, 2008

Every parent likes to think his or her children are smart or at least have the potential to be smart. I used to be one of those parents. But I have had to face reality that once they hit their teen years – they lose their minds and the ability think rationally.

Bobby and I went away for a Saturday night for Valentines Day last February. We left our 20 year old and 17 year old at the house for one night. We were assured that they would behave and agreed that no friends were to come over. We had been down this road before, unsuccessfully I might add, and this was a second chance for them to prove they could be responsible. How dumb are we? And we wonder why are kids are – what is the word I am looking for here – oh yeah dumb. Genetics! So off we go. We come back on Sunday, all is well, and the house is spotless. I now have faith in my decision, my children and all is right with my world. But just for that one night.

Around noon on Monday Bob is called over to one of his assistants desks to look at something on the computer screen.It’s a party picture – a party at our house. He looks and says with confidence “yeah that was last year we know all about it” and his assistant says, “I don’t think so – Ali just told me to look at her face book page to see these photos”. ”No really – it was a last year- they are old photos” and just as she is about to log off he takes a closer look. There on the kitchen counter are the flowers he sent me for Valentines Day – Yes that Valentines Day -you know, the one that comes in February. Now that she has his attention, he looks at all the photos, kids everywhere in our house. Even better, it is all documented and sent directly to his office, compliments of our own daughter. D U M B

Yes, they were punished, cars were taken away, phones were confiscated and laptops lad their batteries removed. Did we learn our lesson? No, we are not that smart. Not a one of us.

I discovered our ongoing stupidity when looking through my computer I discovered these photos. They may not mean much to you until I tell you that we were having our pool repainted last spring, these dark streaks appeared, and no one knew how they got there. It was a mystery. A phenomenon. No one knew a thing. Until now. You have to love their creative photographic flair but really STOP advertising your bad behavior! We do not want to know, really we don’t!